Many production cast iron and aluminum blocks suffer from a design weakness of cylinder stability by nature of poor support at the upper deck area. The manufacturing process of "cast in sleeves" provides for economy of scale in low horsepower engines, but does not accommodate high horsepower, high boost, or larger bore sizes. Darton has engineered a superior patented solution by using a unique designed cylinder sleeve which when siamesed and nested, creates a solid deck of sleeve flanges held in tension, reinforcing the upper deck area and provides for individual replacement with what they call Modular Integrated Deck (MID).

In addition, Darton designs' manage and enhance water flow from block to head to promote stability of cooling and all sleeves are of the "Wet" design. The enhanced water flow in and around the flange area is possible because of ported water flow control engineering Darton calls "Swirl Coolant Technology". Heat is also dissipated through the use of "Register Fins". While heat is generally considered to translate into energy, high resident heat in the combustion chamber can lead to detonation, the single highest cause of engine failure in the high horsepower regimes.

Darton supplies the MID sleeves with a phosphate coating. Phosphate coating is the treatment with a solution whereby the surface of the metal is covered with an integral, protective layer of insoluble crystalline. This microcrystalline structure on the MID sleeve makes it optimal for corrosion and rust resistance. Additionally this adds another protective barrier for the o-rings in the lower register of the sleeve extending their lifespan even longer.